Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Annacotty is among 18 horses left in Saturday's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham at the confirmation stage.
Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Annacotty is among 18 horses left in Saturday's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham at the confirmation stage.
The seven-year-old was successful on his first start since joining trainer Alan King from Martin Keighley's team and could now bid to become the first horse to win both races since Exotic Dancer in 2006.
King is also represented by Turn Over Sivola in this valuable handicap chase over an extended two and a half miles.
With King's Smad Place and also Wishfull Thinking being withdrawn at the five-day stage, the weights will go up 6lb and are now headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Sound Investment.
Nicholls has two other possibles in Salubrious, who won at Carlisle recently on his first start for 13 months, and Paddy Power Gold Cup sixth Art Mauresque.
Most of the leading fancies have stood their ground. They include Irish Cavalier, who took fifth place behind Annacotty last month.
Philip Hobbs has two strong candidates in Champagne West and Village Vic, who could both line up, according to stable jockey Richard Johnson.
"It looks like both Champagne West and Village Vic will take their chance," the title-chasing jockey told www.betway.com.
"Champagne West was a high class novice last season. He's won twice around Cheltenham, seems in great order at home and won't mind the ground.
"Village Vic has been in great form this term and we're hopeful he's still going the right way.
"It's the perfect race for both of them and it's obviously nice to have two decent chances. It's just a shame they're in the same race."
Among others in the mix are Paddy Power runner-up Buywise, Johns Spirit and Little Jon, while there are three remaining Irish entries - Willie Mullins' Mozoltov, Texas Jack, trained by Noel Meade, and Arthur Moore's Pass The Hat.